Wonders of Nature

I was doing my blog visits when I glanced upon Crissy’s page and gave priority to repost this as my support for our country’s treasures.

It just strikes me though, that when I tried to search the nominees for the New 7 Wonders of Nature I didn’t find anything anything from Palawan. I was hoping somewhere in the list of nominees I would find the Subterranean National River Park more popularly known as St. Paul Underground River in Puerto Princesa, in the province of Palawan in the Visayas region. Too bad that place was really magnificent and I would recommend it to anyone who wish to visit my country.

Take a look at these pictures I took outside and inside the 8 kilometer stretch Underground River in June 2007, to see what I am vouching for. This wonderful work of nature was surrounded by great bodies of water, the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, and it’s the Worlds Longest Underground River.

So correct me if I am wrong, but that place deserves to be included in the New 7 Wonders of Nature. But, anyway since it's not there here are the other nominees in the Philippines, and I appeal to my countrymen, and Philippines fans to support our own and vote for the following:

CHOCOLATE HILLS (Current Live Ranking: #8)
The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, all about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 sq km The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the name "Chocolate Hills."

TUBBATAHA REEF (Current Live Ranking: #10)
Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.

MAYON VOLCANO (Current Live Ranking: #17)
Mayon Volcano is an active volcano on the Filipino island of Luzon, 15 km northwest of Legazpi City.It is classified by volcanologists as a stratovolcano (composite volcano). Its symmetric cone was formed through alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. Mayon is the most active volcano in the country, having erupted over 47 times in the past 400 years, and is a part of what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire.

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

Jawaharlal Nehruehru

Life is a beach!

Summer is my most favorite time of the year! Why? Look at that picture doesn't it make you feel oh so warm and relaxed? I love the beach! Growing up in the city a get-away from the smoggy, busy city life is the most rewarding time of the year for me. Seeing the sunset and sunrise, the calming sound of the waves, getting wet all day, sunbathing, playing with the sand, getting half-naked and people don't mind even if you have the most ridiculous body shape, swimming, swimming along with the fishes and a laid back day when everything stops and you are just one with nature.

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.
Ada Louise Huxtable

Hopefully I will be beach hoping again this year my destination: La Union, Anawangin and Bali! I'm so excited! (BTW those pics were taken in Puerto Princesa Palawan, Subic and Puerto Galera last year (April-June 2007)

Places to visit this summer in the Philippines

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

If you want to experience Paradise don't think twice this is the perfect destination for you. I fell inlove with this place I love every second I spent in there.

Reason to go here:
1) It's the epitomy of Paradise
2) Experience an underground river and marvel inside the long strech of the cave on a boat on a river.
3) If you want to meet Nemo (clownfish) Dory (angelfish) , watch starfish race each other, zebra fish, play with live jellyfish, and face to face with the most dangerous poisonous fish in the world the stonefish and see a giant clam come to this place!
4) Many more reasons to go there just take a peek at those pics and you know I'm not kidding!

There are lots of places that you can visit in Palawan and this is just one stop. If you have a week to spare for a vacation galore, explore Palawan, they have to most wonderful marine life great for scubba diving. Make sure to bring an underwater camera. I wish I had one, even here in Puerto Princesa and the little snorkeling we did in some island we saw enough marine life I have never seen before and it's wonderful! (Pics taken June 2007)

Samar

Get a plane from Manila to Tacloban and hire a van that will take you to Eastern Samar from the airport. There is no airport in Samar. Vans are reasonably priced just tell them if you want to hire them for drop-off and pick-up only or for a couple of days. A reasonable price is P2,000 a day, the tip is up to you.

You need your own automobile to go in this resort and any other resort here in Samar you want to go to, there are no cabs and you don't want to squeeze yourself in the public transport.

There are lots of things you can do and enjoy in this beautiful resort (I wish I didn't have memory gap so I could remember the name, but you can ask for the Samar tourist authority, they know it so well!) you can go kayaking, jetski (yes they have jetski!), boating, swim, etc. anything you can think of to do in a beach resort. They have nice rooms and villas too!

Taal Volcano, Tagaytay, Philippines

Why go to Taal Volcano?
1) If you want to be in an island on a lake on an island in a lake on an island on an ocean (Pacific Ocean)?
2) If you want to see the smallest active volcano in the world?
3) If you want to get up close to one of the 16 Decade Volcanoes in the world?

Taal is located at Talisay, Batangas just 2 hours away from the busy Manila so you can go there for a weekend get-away and stay in one of the cozy hotels and lodges in Tagaytay overlooking the beautiful volcano.

There's also Boracay, Baguio, Cebu, Bohol, BATANES, Manila Ocean Park, so many more ask me and I'll tell you where you should go! (Not much time to make slides of my other trips here in my own country.